The online network X has provoked significant outrage after individuals utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to manipulate pictures of women by stripping their attire.
Several instances have surfaced where the system has been used to digitally undress women to make them appear in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to insert them in sexualized contexts.
Developer Reaction and Legal Stance
XAI, the firm that created Grok, did not respond to questions, except for an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that legislation is being proposed to ban image stripping technology. Under a proposed law, anyone who supplied such tools would "face a jail term and heavy fines".
"The platform has the ability to stop these types of abuse if they chose to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Oversight Body Position and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the danger" of people seeing illegal content on their networks, but stopped short of confirming whether it was currently examining X or Grok in relation to artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a free chatbot—with some additional functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they mention it in a post.
It is commonly used to give reactions or additional background to other users' comments, but people on X are also able to modify an uploaded image through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
Background of Controversy and Rules
The tool has been criticised for permitting users to produce images and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was previously alleged to have been involved in creating sexually explicit content of celebrities.
"X has been permitting the creation and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any action and we have yet to see any action by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own terms of service forbids "showing likenesses of persons in a graphic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or share non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and confirmed this covered sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said services such as X were mandated to take "suitable steps" to "lessen the risk" of users viewing unlawful material on their platforms and to delete it quickly when they are notified of it.
